eebseey



(No Model.)

B. HBRSHEY.

ORE SBPARATOR.

patented Nov. 27. 188s.

N. PETERS. Fholulheg-upher, wnshingwn. D. C.

` UNITED STATES@ PATENT @Erica BENJAMIN HEEsHEY, or ERIE, rENNsYLvANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `l'ietters Patent No. 289,261, dated November 27', 1883.

` Application Iled May 1, 1883, (No model.) i

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN HERsrIEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsyl- I vania, have invented new and useful Improvel ments in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved Ina-` chine for separating ores and precious metals;

, therewith, an arm, C', and a wrist-pin, C, the` outer end of which is adapted to connect with and the novelty consists in the construction,

arrangement, and adaptation of parts,vas will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The prime object of the invention may be said to be toprovide adevice for the separa- `tion of gold or other metals from the lighter I metals Awith which they may be mixed, which Shall be simple .and comparatively inexpensive in manufacture, efficient and durable in 2C. this end I employ a device in which a centrif- 'service, and not liable to get out of order. To

ugal force, combined with a horizontal vibra` tory motion of the table or orebed, so act on the material treated that while it is passing out-` ward from the center, due to the centrifugal force, it becomes stratified, according to the different specific gravities of the materials, due to the continuous horizontal vibrations. I provide a'separate discharge for each different stratum, and such duplication of parts that reconcentration is effected in the same apparatus without a separate or extra handling of the material being treated.. These objects are effected by the mechanism fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which the figure is a vertical central section.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the base, A the vertical posts, Athebraces, an d A the sill, of a stout frame, to the base Aof which is secured a metal step-plate, B, which furnishes a pivot-bearing for the vertical shaft C, which shaft has its upper end journaled in the sill A, as shown. rlhe shaft C carries, rigid a pitman or other power-connection, (not shown,) it being understood that the powereonnection mentioned is designed to oscillate the vertical shaft C back and forth with aconsiderable stroke, in order that a centrifugal force will accrue.

Rigid with the shaft C are a series of hubs, D, each having radial spokes Dandaperipherall rim, D2. Circular disks or tables E are secured at their peripheral edges to the rims D2, `while at `their centers they closely embrace the shaft C -at a point above their respective hubs D. From the junctions of these tables E with the shaft C they incline ontwardly and downwardly, the incline becoming less as the distance from the shaft is increased, and this difference is determined by the amount of centrifugal force which will accrue at any given point, the more centrifugal force the less incline or pitch. I have illustrated three wheels and three tables, and

I will describe the device accordingly; `but it will be understood that the number may be changed without departing from the principle of the invention. From the spokes of each of the upper two wheels, by means of brackets a, is secured an inverted truncatedeone, F, between the lower portion, f, of which and the shaft C is left an annular space, that part being adjacent to the apex ofthe inclined table below. Made in one piece with or secured to each of these inverted truncated cones F is a cylindrical part, F', of such greater diameter than that of the wheel to which it is secured as to leave an intervening space between the two, and rigid with the upper edge of this cylindrical portion F is a horizontal flange or ring, F, which extends inward beyond the periphery of its particular wheel and table.

The lower wheel and table, it will be 'observed, have a different construction in that case, there-being no open-bottomedcone F, but a closed-bottom receptacle, M, fand the cylindrical portion F being secured directly to the lower table E.

G designates the hopper, from which tubes H connect with an auxiliary hopper, L, having a bail, L', as shown. This bail L operates between two nuts, b b,which serve, in connection with a threaded portion of the shaft C, to allow the operator to adjust the hopper L vertically at will.

The operation of the device is as follows The shaft C being oscillated through proper power-connection with the arm C/ and wrist- IOC pin G, a centrifugal force accrues to each table. These tables being of successive smaller size as they progress downward, the tailings Of either do not fall upon 0r interfere with the tables below` The material being fed into the hopper G will, through the tubes H, fall into the hopper L, the lower end of which is open, and being of larger diameter than the shaft C, will leave an annular opening around the latter. As the hopper L is close to the upper and central portion of the upper table E, the material will fall on the curved face of such table and move downward and outward through the oscillatory movement of said table, aided by centrifugal force. At the same time there is a constant motion of lthe particles of the mass upon each other, and in consequence of the constant]y-increasing area of the table from its center to its circumference there is a gradual thinning ofthe body of the material. rlhe rate of feed, the speed ofthe vibrations, the diameter of the tables andthe curvaturev and angles of their faces are so proportioned and timed that by the'time the mass treated reaches the outer edge of the table it will be stratified accordin g Vto the specific gravityv of the ingredients. The flat rings F are set at such a relation to the tables E that so much ofthe mass-the heavier portion-asit is desirable to save will pass under them, while the lighter portions overflowv and are discharged as failings As rapidity of operation precludes the close separation that economy suggests, it is desirable to reconcentrate thesavings of the first table; hence such savings lare discharged inside of the ring F of that particular wheel into the upper inverted cone, F. rlhe shaking motion of this cone will cause its contents to be discharged on the sec- Aond table, E, near its junction with the shaft C, where the operation of the first table, as `iustdcscribed, is repeated, and so on until the savings are discharged into the receptacle M. The relative diameters of the tables are proportioned to the amount of material each is designed to treat, while the curvature of the tables and thelength and rapidity of the stroke aire proportioned to the kind or quality of material t0 be treated, the nearer these proportions are maintained the better the result accruing. It will be observed that the distance between the hopper L and the upper table E determines the amount of feed, the nuts b being designed to increase or diminish this feeding' capacity as the hopper L is raised or lowered thereby. It is important that the pressure in the hopper L should be uniform in order to have an even feed. To this end the main hopper G is superposed, and communicationmade therewith by means of the tubes H.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

l. Inan ore-separator, in combination with an adjustable hopper, an oscillating shaft and a wheel rigid therewith, a curved inclined table extending from said shaft to the periphery of the wheel, and an inverted truncated cone secured to the spokes of the wheel,having an open bottom and a iiange arranged contiguous to the face of the table, whereby the savings will be discharged into the cone and the lighter portionsl over the flange as tailings, substantially as described.

2. ln an ore-separator, a curved inclined circular'table rigid with an oscillating-shaft, and an annular separatingflange arranged contiguous to the face and periphery of the table, whereby the centrifugal force, due to the oscillation of said shaft and table, will aid the incline to impel the material outward, and the oscillating `motion will stratify the material,

and the-fiange separate and save the heavier strata, substantially as described.

3. In an ore-separator, and in combination with an oscillating shaft, the rigid wheels, a series of successively smaller curved circular tables rigid with the peripheries ofthe wheels,

a series of open-bottomed inverted truncated cones having cylindrical portions of greater diameter than the wheels, and flanges which approach the tables, near their outer edges, and a receptacle, M, substantially as described.

4. In an ore-separator, and in combination with an oscillating shaft, the rigid wheels and curved circular tables, the hopper G, havingv tubes leading therefrom, an adjustable hopper, L, and means for determining the amount of feed to said table by the adjustment at will of said hopper L, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the oscillating shaft and power-connections, the tables E, wheels D D D2, cones F, supported by brackets a, and having portions F, and annular flanges F", the receptacle M, hopper G, having tubes H, hopper L, having bail L', and the nuts b, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN HERSHEY.

IVitnesses:

IV. G. MCKEAN, H. A. STRONG.

IOO 

